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Why growing your own fruit make economic sense

People generally grow vegetables before fruit but that’s not necessarily a good idea, especially if you’re short on space. I made a decision a few years back to concentrate on fruit rather than veg. Why? Pure economics.

It makes the most sense to grow the things that are the most expensive, such as strawberries, raspberries, apricots, plums, etc. You get a lot more value per square metre than, say potatoes, which are dirt cheap to buy and take up a lot of room.

Everbearing strawberry from Lubera
Whopping everbearing strawberry from Lubera

Many fruit trees are extremely decorative and compact (as long as they’re on dwarfing rootstocks). I have blossom in my garden from February to May from Japanese blood plum Lizzie, then apricot Kioto, followed by the apple and crab apple trees. Most trees can be grown in containers, as long as they don’t go short of water or food.

You also have the chance to grow unusual varieties you won’t find in the shops. Read more about this red rhubarb here and how to grow it here.

  • Fruit
  • Fruit
  • Fruit
  • Fruit

I must hold up my hand here for the rapid turnover of fruit (and veg) in my garden. I’m having to make many changes to futureproof the whole area to take into account my frequent falls and balance problems. Sadly, cramming things in like I used to do just isn’t working. Although all gardens are a journey, it seems my fruity escapades are often doomed – bushes and trees often grow too big for my space.

  • Dotberries
  • Raspberries in August
  • Rhubarb
  • First rhubarb harvest of the year

Making difficult decisions over fruit trees

It looks like the apricot will have to go. It has gummosis, an unpleasant disease and is in the way of a potential new raised bed/seating area.

Many of the plants in this section I’ve had to give up but I have kept my backbone of apples, plums, strawberries, blackcurrants, rhubarb and raspberries outdoors.

I grow strawberries in zinc troughs and pots. They’re everbearers (fruiting continually and not in a big glut) and carry fruit right until December (although they often don’t ripen then).

My autumn-fruiting raspberries have been moved from pillar to post around the garden. They’re now housed in a 1m x 1m raised bed tucked away beside the greenhouse (they’re not pretty and spiny). I particularly like these yellow-leaved raspberries – read more here.

  • Apple in a barrel Red Falstaff
  • Apples blown off by early gales!
  • Old apple tree full of fruit, Sept 20
  • growing an apple tree

Ornamental and productive roles

All of the fruit trees live in the borders, performing an ornamental and productive role. Rhubarb’s a stunning plant in its own right, so there are a couple of clumps in the borders too – and it will stand a bit of shade.

Lurking in the front garden are three blackcurrants, which fruit there quite happily with the minimum of attention. The birds don’t seem to notice them.

Past plants that were successful before they outgrew their welcome include dotberries* (one red and one yellow), a blueberry, a thornless double-flowering blackberry Loch Maree and gooseberries.

The blackberry/loganberry cross (formerly called a sunberry) had to go as it took over! It’s very easy to grow but needs to be picked daily, as the birds will beat you to it and then deposit purple poo everywhere. The fruit also goes over very quickly, especially if it’s damp.

*These, like many of my unusual fruit, came from Swiss specialist Lubera. Unfortunately, due to Brexit, they don’t ship to the UK at the moment.

Fruit home page updated January 2022